Cyber Safety What Every Parent Needs to Know If your child is surfing the Web, you need to be paddling right alongside him/her
Today’s Discussion Points Understanding what children are doing online Keeping children safe when they are online Teaching children to make smart choices when they are online Starting a discussion about Internet safety that is continued with our families Links for more information
Why Cyber Safety? We are first-generation Internet parents Our children are the first generation to be born and raised with the Internet as part of their everyday lives. Our children know more about the Internet than we do!
What Parents Need to Watch for? How Children Get Online Mobile devices, including cell phones Laptops and personal computers Video game consoles What Children Do Online Visit virtual worlds Play multiuser games Text or instant message one another Post profiles and interact with others on social networking sites View and post videos Download music, movies, and more Create and upload art Do research
Texting and Instant Messaging Social Networking Sites (Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Youtube, MySpace, etc.) Video-Sharing Sites Online Games Sexting Online Concerns (cyber bullying, disturbing content, Viruses and spyware, Sexual predators) Things that Put Your Child at Risk
How can you support without hovering? Basic Ways To Keep Your Child Safe Sign an “Internet Safety Contract.” Keep the computer in a public area of your home. Set a time limit for computer use. Become familiar with the sites your child visits. Keep checking on the web history to know what sites your child visits Know your child’s online “friends.” Know your child’s passwords. Keep your security software up to date.
1. Internet Safety Contract - Sample 1.I will not give anyone or any website on the Internet my name, address, telephone number, password, my parents' names, the name of any club or team I'm involved in, or the name of my school without my parents' permission. I will keep this rule when I am online, including chat rooms, instant messages, , websites, and social networking sites, and when entering contests and registering for online clubs. 2.I will never fill out questionnaires or any forms online without Mom and/or Dad's permission. 3.I will never tell anyone online where I will be or what I will be doing without Mom and/or Dad's permission. 4.I will not enter a chat room. 5.I will not meet in person anyone that I've met online unless my parent has agreed and will go with me to meet with them in a public place. 6.I will only use instant messaging with people on my buddy list that my parents have approved. 7.I will treat others online as I would have them treat me. I will never send out mean or threatening messages nor will I respond to any such messages that are sent to me. 8.I will not open or accept s, enclosures, links, URL's or other information from people I do not know. 9.I will report to my parents any , chat room conversations, instant messages or websites that make me feel uncomfortable like X-rated , images or files. It is not my fault if I see something bad accidentally. If I do see something inappropriate, I will log off or turn off my computer. I will then tell my parents what happened as soon as possible. 10.I will not go online over (the amount of time) per week, as set by my parents.
Basic Internet Rules for Children Establish rules and expectations before you get the technology. Discuss and agree on rules & consequences. Set a good example. Keep the lines of communication open Communicate Never too early to start Use “sound bites” not lectures Find “teachable moments” to share your values and thoughts Listen What does your child think? What are your child’s concerns?
Resources for Parents NetSmartz.org/Parents FBI Parent Guide to Internet Safety Common Sense Media KidsHealth.org ThinkUKnow NetSmartzKids Professor Garfield’s Internet Safety